Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday joined a two-day long North-East level conference of top police officials across the and said that all the northeastern states have decided to put up a strong fight against the growing threat of drugs and other permanent law and order crises that have been raging in the area for years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the formal inauguration of North East DGPs, IGPs conclave in Agartala, Saha said, “This meeting is aimed at improving cooperation, coordination and inter-state networking of the police forces of the northeast region so that the threats could be neutralized through a collaborative effort,” he said.
The Chief Minister Identified the influx of drugs into the region as the greatest challenge and considered that it requires much-needed attention from governments. “The drugs enter India from Myanmar through Assam and then are transported to Tripura via Mizoram. From Tripura, the drug consignments are smuggled to Bangladesh. This route needs to be destroyed in order to ensure a drug-free society. From our end, we shall ensure that the ganja that is being grown here does not go outside the state by any means,” Saha said.
The conference is being held after a break of 30 years in Agartala.
The meeting was attended by the DGPs, the chiefs of central police services in the northeast, and all high-ranking police officers in all northeastern states, and will continue for two days.
On the border disputes with Bangladesh and frequent reports of Rohingya infiltration, Saha said, “Barbed wire fencing has been erected in most of the bordering patches. In some parts, it is still to be done and we have taken up the issue with the Central government for speedy redressal. The Central government is also in talks with the Bangladesh counterpart to ensure that both countries make equal developments in border domination and management. We keep hearing reports of the Rohingya influx but most of them are being detained. There are legal processes associated with the matter, which are being followed in letter and spirit.”
The Chief Minister also commended Prime Minister Modi on his Eastern Act policy. He said, “Due to Prime Minister Modi’s Act East policy, peace was restored in the region. Terrorism and insurgency were key issues that stalled the growth of this region. Now, these elements have been mostly neutralized. Some activities have been reported from the Bangladesh side but we have also increased surveillance.”
“The inter-state cooperation has also improved; a sense of regional unity and integrity has been instilled. The border disputes between states have also been resolved mostly and I hope the remaining issues will be solved accordingly,” he added.
